LITERARY Gatherings, Readings, Poetry Jams - Sonoma County CALENDAR

Join like minds who love to read, write and recite. Plenty of people to share your passion for the written and spoken word...Enjoy!

LITERARY EVENTS:

Sonoma County Library - Coffee with the Director ~ Please join us for the new series of Coffee with the Director forums. These FREE events will provide an opportunity for residents to converse with Sonoma County Library Director Brett Lear, ask questions, discuss issues, or simply meet the Director. For more information, call 707-545-0831 x 1553. These events will be held monthly at each of the Sonoma County Library branches so that residents across the county can participate. Dates, times, and locations are posted on the library website at sonomalibrary.org.February at Windsor LibraryMarch at Rohnert Park-Cotati LibraryApril at Guerneville LibraryMay at Sebastopol LibraryJune at Sonoma Valley LibraryJuly at Northwest Library

Mar 29 ~ Celebration Book Launch for Tania Pryputniewicz’s November Butterfly ~ An Evening of Poetry and Poetry Movies featuring the work of Sonoma County Artists.Q & A, book signing and sales. Free admission but donations happily accepted. Refreshments sold. 3p at OCA, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Bohemian at Graton Rds. Further info: 707-874-9392 or occidentalcenterforthearts.com.

Sitting Room anthology 2015 ~ The theme for 2015 is "An overlooked female author." Share a body of work or a single book by an author neglected, ignored, or underestimated by the academy and by the general reading public. Persuade us, cajole us, why would would "just love" to read this author generally or a specific book of hers. Anyone may participate. The editor this year is Lucille Friesen, who graciously volunteered this major assignment. How to send? Go to the Style Guide! www.sittingroom.org/publish.html

The Big Brick Review 1st Annual Essay Contest ~ the contest theme is loosely based on the concept of "building," which authors can interpret as creatively as they choose. Essays must be narrative non-fiction. 2,000 word limit, due Feb 16. www.bigbrickreview.com

Mar 28 ~ Sonoma County Local Author Showcase & Symposium ~ Central Santa Rosa (downtown) Library gathering of local authors from all over Sonoma County. They will be on hand to talk about their work, the writing process, and to answer questions. Short author talks will take place throughout the day. FREE. 10:30am - 3:00pm, 211 E. Street, Santa Rosa INFO: sonomalibrary.org Invitation on Facebook

Apr 12 ~ Tips for Successful Essay and Memoir ~ Writing teacher and editor Susan Bono will discuss key concepts of essay and memoir writing at the meeting of Redwood Writers, 3-5 p.m. at the Flamingo Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. Admission is $5 for members, $8 for nonmembers. For more information, go to www.redwoodwriters.org.

WriterSpeak ~ GEM Productions is looking for North Bay writers who are interested in appearing as a guest on WriterSpeak, a half hour talk show that will allow you to promote your work. Looking for Local writers who have a book, e-book, anthology, play or screenplay to talk about. $125 fee to cover production costs. For more info, contact Gary Carnivele: 707.225.1302 Email: editor@wtppub.org

Writers Forum ~ features a variety of presenters exploring the craft and business of writing on the third Thursday of each month. Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park, 320 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. NEW TIME: 6:30 to 8:30p, $10 at the door. www.TheWriteSpot.us

Snoopy's Writers ~ CURRENTLY our "Think Tank" is talking about "What is Plot?" Snoopy’s Writers meet EVERY MONDAY AFTERNOON FROM 1-4 pm at THE WARM PUPPY CAFE. Some of us write and some of us talk about writing while we write. We do not hold to traditional rules of order about "meeting". Warm Puppy Cafe, Snoopy’s Home Ice, 1667 West Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. Info: Georgette G. deBlois ggdeb@sonic.net.

READERS:

Early Literacy ~ Events for children at Sonoma County libraries. READ-TALK-PLAY-SING programs at all library branches. Schedule: www.sonomalibrary.org

Events at Many Rivers Books, 130 S. Main St., Suite 101, Sebastopol, 707-829-8871, www.manyriversbooks.com. Check out - and add comments to - our new Many Rivers blog available from the Many Rivers homepage, or at manyriversbooks.com/blog1/.Every Tues ~ Renewal of Presence Practice Group ~ With the Tayu Meditation Center staff. Join us for an ongoing discussion of these issues, and for engagement with exercises that explore the practical metaphysics of renewing and intensifying Presence in every moment of existence. 7:30pmEvery Other Wed ~ Opening to Insight: Meditation and Discussion ~ Join us here at Many Rivers every other Wednesday for a guided meditation practice and discussion. The meditations that we will be practicing are perfect for beginners and for those who want to deepen their practice. Everyone is welcome! 7:30pm.Apr 2 ~ Linda Deslaurier, Author of Awakening Hair—Enhancing Your Life ~ Linda Deslaurier writes: As a teenager I experienced hair loss, which led me to a life long interest in hair, classical homeopathy, holistic health, and psychology. 7:30pApr 9 ~ Novel Writing & My Spiritual Journey to Four Corners ~ Margaret Murray, Author of Spiral and Sundagger.net. This evening author Margaret C. Murray will talk about how she writes her novels. Margaret spent a decade researching the pre-Puebloan culture of the Southwest while writing her novels of magic realism, Spiral and Sundagger.net. 7:30pApr 16 ~ Gurdjieff's Transformational Psychology ~ Russell Schreiber, author of Gurdjieff's Transformational Psychology: The Art of Compassionate Self-Study. Dr. Russell Schreiber, clinical psychologist, has worked with the Gurdjieff system of inner development for over forty years. He explains, in depth, how modern psychology and Gurdjieff's Work enrich each other. 7:30pApr 18 ~ Apr 23 ~ How to Sit for Meditation ~Sukha Carfagno with Dana Davis, Certified Balance Instructors. If you find sitting for meditation physically challenging please join us for an introductory hour of Balanced Sitting. 7:30pApr 30 ~ Growing Inside Out, Cultivating Your Child’s Inner Spark ~Dianne Monroe, Inner Wilderness Guide. Dianne Monroe returns to Many Rivers to share her innovative, easy-to-use approach to nurturing children’s inner growth and unique spark of brilliance (sometimes called soul gift or purpose). 7:30p